Automatic tongue.



F. X. LAUTERBUR.

AUTOMATIO TONGUE.

APYLIOATION FILED JULY 13.1909.

Patented Sept. 13,1910.

' WITNESS/5S v INVENTOR 1 Allamey W To all whom it may concern:

' FRANK 2., LAUTERBUR, OF SIDNEY, OHIO.

' ,AUTOMATIC renown.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 13, 1910.

Application filed July 13, 1909. Serial No. 507,844.

Be it known that I, FRANK LAUTER- I BUR, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Sidney, in the countyof Shelby and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Tongues, of which the following is a specification.

' 'My-invention relates to wagon tongues and-more especially to that class of wagon tongues which are used in drawing a chain .or train of wagons or other vehicles.

The object of my invention is to produce an adjustable wagon tongue adapted to be connected to the forward truck of a suitable vehicle and to be connected to another.vehicle in the same train or to a traction engine or other motive power adapted to hauling purposes.

Another object of my invention is the production of a wagon tongue for the purpose above described, which will cause the wagonattached thereto, to follow in the tracks of the next preceding wagon.

Another object of my invention is to pro-',

vide a wagon tongue as above, which may be rendered adjustable for vehicles having wheel-bases of different lengths.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a wagonton 1 lie which may be used for the purposes a ove described and which may be transformed into the type of tongue ordlnarily used upon wagons and similar vehicles.

With the above and other objects in view,

- my invention consists of such details of con:

struction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter'more fully described and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In describing my invention-in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate the same or similar parts throughout the several views and in which,

Figure 1, is a plan view of my improyed wagon tongue as it appears when the draft I is along a straight road, 'Fig. '2 is a plan view of said tongue as it appears when the forward wagon or other hauling apparatus 1s turning a corner.

D is a wagon tongue of the usual construction hav ng a number of longitudinal slots 1, K therein. A number of bars are suitably pivoted to the tongue D. I preferably construct my device with three of these bars, A, B, and that I'may employ more if circumstances .Warrant a different construction. The two foremost bars, B and C, are so mounted upon the tongue D as to have a longitudinal are provided upon the bar A, whereby the tongue may be connected to the truck or running gear of a wagon and like means may be placed upon the bar C whereby the C, but it will be understood l'atter may be connected to the preceding wagon 'or to atraction engine or the like.

From the foregoing, it will be seen, that when the bar C moves upon its pivoted connection, the bar B rotates sufiiclently to re'- main a proximately parallel with the first named ar. Because of the cross rods E, F, the bar A is caused toswin in the opposite direction, as fully disclose 'in Fig. 2. It will be evident, therefore, that if the bar C is attached'to one of the train of wagons, the following wagon will be caused to turn in the tracks of thepreceding wagon and it will not be permitted to cut any'- istance whatever off of the turn. In other words, each wagon of the train will turn upon the same ground as the preceding wagon. The

degree or amount of swing or throw of the bar A, in relation to the swir of thebar C, may be regulated by adjusting the rods rods G and H in the holes I) and 0, will produce similar results. When the traction engine or other hauling apparatus has the same length wheel: base as the following wagons, my device will be adjusted as shown in Fig. 1. When, however, the wheel bases of the various vehicles differ in length then other adjustment will become necessary.

For instance, suppose the leading wagon has a wheel base of 10 ft., while the following one has a wheel base of 12 feet. If it was desired that theback wheels "of the second wagon should follow in the tracks of those of the formen it would be necessary to make the front wheels of the second wagon overtrack those of the leading wagon. This can be accomplished by placing the ends of the rods E and F in the holes nearer the pivotal connection of the bar A- or a like result could be accomplished by placing the endsv than the other two.

- tach a wagon from the train.

One great advantage of my improved tongue is, that it may be transformed into the ordinary type when it is desired to de- This saves the necessity of entirely removing the tongue and attaching another one: I obtain this result by adapting the rods Gfand H, so that theymay be swung around upon the bar B and be connected to the bar A as shown in dotted lines at G and H. In

this way the bars A and B .becomerigid upon the tongue member D. Double trees may then be attached by any suitable means,

to the bar B and horses or other draft A animals hitched to the tongue in the usual manner. To facilitate this operation, I provide the member L of 'usual construction upon the end of the tongue.

The bars B .and C are capable of a longitudinal yielding motion in the slots I and K, which are essential in allowing free play of .the members 13 and C when turning a curve of the road. The slots I, and K constitute guide ways for the longitudinal movement of the bars B and C. All of the strain therefore, is transmitted to the four rods, which have a slight yielding motion, incidentally equalizing the draft, as will be-readilyunderstood by" reference to the drawing.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I provide a tongue which is cheaply con structed and may be easily applied to any Prefer- .pivotally co-act.

suitable vehicle, and which will be fiectiv when applied to each one of a train of wagons. g

It will enable one or more wagons, drawn by motive power of any kind, to turn around corners or in a complete circle, as the case may be, without eachsucceeding wagon starting to make the turn before reaching the point at which the preceding wagons turned. The tongue, as shown, is'

positively automatic in action, after once adjusted to suit the wheel bases of the preceding vehicles, and no attention is necessary, so that the driver of the traction engine need pay no attention whatever to the number of wagons behind the draft apparatus.

It will be understood that the foregoing is my preferred form of invention and that v I am not limited thereto, for slight changes of construction may be resorted to without deviating from the'spirit and scope of my said invention.

' I claim:

l. Awagon tongue comprising a tongue member properhaving a plurality of longitudinal slots, a plurality of bars pivotally mounted upon said tongue member, the foremost of said bars capable of a longitudinal movement in said slots, and means connecting the bars wherebythey are caused to 2. A Wagon tongue comprising a tongue member, a plurality of bars plvotally mounted upon the tongue member, sald tongue being provided with guide ways longitudinally of the tongue member and in fixed relation thereto, said guide ways engaging the pivotal connections of said bars, and means connecting the bars.

3. A wagon'tongue comprising a tongue member, a plurality of bars pivotally mounted upon the tongue member, said gitudinally of the tongue member and in fixed relation thereto, said guide ways engaging the pivotal connections of said bars, means connecting the said bars, said means having alternately interchangeable connections with the front and rear bars.

4:. Awagon tongue comprisinga tongue.

member, a plurality of 'bars pivotally mounted upon the tongue member, said tongue being provided with guide Ways lontongue being provided with guide Ways longitudinally of the tongue member and in fixed relation thereto, said guide ways e'n gaging the plvoted connections of said bars, rods connecting. the ends of said bars, a pa r of said rods crossing said tongue member 1 diagonally, a pair of said rods being approximately parallel with said tongue. member and having interchangeable connections with the front and rear bars.

5. A wagon tongue comprising a tonguemember proper havin a plurality of Ion bars adapted to be connected to suitable tudinal slots, a plum ityvof bars pivota 1y hauling means 10 mounted upon said tongue member, one of In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my said bars fixed, the ,other slidable in. said signature in the resence of two witnesses.

5 slots and means connecting the bars where- FR NK X. LAUTERBUR.

by they are causedto ivotally coact, said Witnesses: fixed bar adapted to e connected to the HUGH DOORLEY,

' front of a. vehicle and one of said slidable PAUL LAU' ERBUR. 

